The Cambridge Society of Dorset is a well-established group dating from 1984 with a lively membership of over 120.  Each year we offer a varied programme of talks and visits to places of interest around the County. These usually include an opportunity for informal social gatherings and a convivial meal.

All Cambridge alumni are warmly welcomed to join these events, as are their partners and guests. We also enjoy reciprocal invitations from adjacent counties which extends our range of contacts and events. Those considering joining are encouraged to come to any events of interest.

Recent speakers have included Rodney Attwood on General Sir Henry Rawlinson, a distinguished Dorset soldier whose career culminated in  his involvement in WW1, and Phil Judkins on radar development in Dorset and the Cambridge connection. We have visited Dean’s Court, Wimborne, the home of the present owner’s family for nearly five centuries, held a summer garden party for members and potential members, and met for a symposium led by Professor David McKitterick, former librarian at Trinity, on the future of the printed book.

Our flagship event is the Annual Lunch at the end of October.  We enjoyed the return of General Peter Williams who spoke about the curious life of Rudolph Hess, in whose trial in 1945 he was involved.  For this event we usually invite a notable speaker with links to the University, and in 2024 we will be hosting Dr Gordon Plant, a neuro-opthalmologist, Cambridge graduate, formerly of the National Hospital for Neurological Diseases and Moorfields Eye Hospital, who will talk on “How Eye Disease affected the Styles of Great Painters”.  A programme for 2024 is being actively planned and will be posted on our website as soon as possible

The Society always needs fresh input and welcomes enquiries from those interested in joining our group as well as new ideas and suggestions for future activities. These can be made via the Email Group link shown below